New Perspectives on Healing Collective Trauma

This book examines how historical injustices, especially enslavement, colonialism, and systemic racism, continue to impact societies today. Drawing on global case studies, from the legacies of transatlantic slavery and colonialism in the Americas to Indigenous experiences of reconciliation in Canada, racial healing initiatives in the United States, and community intergenerational dialogues in Africa, it explores how past traumas are transmitted across generations, shaping contemporary inequalities.

The authors argue that addressing these enduring harms requires collective healing, involving processes of acknowledging the wounds, truth-telling, reparations, reconciliation, and inclusive dialogue across diverse generations and communities. Innovative frameworks presented include “Emotional Justice”, which emphasizes relational well-being and narrative transformation, and “intergenerational dialogue and inquiry” that reaffirms human dignity and restores traditional wisdom and communal resilience. The book also introduces ideas of “healing architecture” and “politics of dignity” that outline structural features of a just society, showing how institutions can be intentionally designed to respect the equal intrinsic value of all persons, nurture social justice, and foster collective well-being.

Gathering interdisciplinary perspectives and renowned global scholars in one volume, the book offers practical strategies and hopeful narratives that demonstrate how societies can move from entrenched division towards communal healing and shared flourishing. It is an essential resource for anyone interested in creating more just, empathetic, and inclusive societies in our increasingly interconnected world.

The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons [Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND)] 4.0 International license.